In Gallant Company (Richard Bolitho Novels, No. 3) (The Bolitho Novels, 3) (Volume 3)

Of all the writers of historical naval fiction, Alexander Kent has by far the most inspiring titles. His titles suggest action and adventure and his novels appear to deliver. Unfortunately, readers might be inclined to take this novel less seriously than it warrants because of the title. That would be a shame as In Gallant Company has serious themes to it.
In Gallant Company is set in 1777 during the American Revolution and features Richard Bolitho who starts as a lowly lieutenant on a ship with 6 of them. The parallels to the British position in the 13 colonies and the American position in Vietnam are extensive; long supply lines, no great sense of purpose, atrocities on both sides, overwhelming firepower that is essentially useless, large neutral countries supporting the enemy and the inability to readily tell friend from foe. Some of the rebels have English accents and some of the royalists have American accents. Bolitho is participating in a truly nasty civil war.
The Revolution is the "bloody war" that junior naval officers look for and advancement comes to the talented Bolitho as much through attrition as through his heroism. War, as Kent describes it, is brutal and some horrible injuries are described graphically. While the title implies action, and Kent delivers it in spades, In Gallant Company is very realistic in its details especially in the effects of shot and shell on men.
In Gallant Company is an action tour-de-force and is suitable for all ages old enough to read it.

This volume in the long Bolitho series has added value for North Americans. It takes place along and off the east coast of the American colonies early in their rebellion. Here we have an English view to match (and out-write and out-excite) the American view purveyed by James Nelson in his Biddlecomb series. Bolitho has the distinct advantage (to American readers) of growing up in the British Navy earlier in history than most of the other fictional naval heroes from the Age of Fighting Sail, who are confined to the Napoleonic World Wars postdating the American Revolution.
4th Lt. Bolitho is now small fry on a large third-rate (80-gun) ship. Tasked to supress rebel privateers working close inshore, duty combines endless waiting, tense anticipation, and the sudden shock of small and bloody actions. Bolitho is centrally and most audaciously involved in successive fierce actions, 2 in small boats, 1 between brigs, 1 aboard a 3rd-rate, and once in the taking of a fort ashore. As we see the chances of battle visibly empty the ranks above him, he advances by skill and survival. Kent does a great job of developing characters here, as we can even understand the motivations of the arrogant and the cowardly officers with whom Bolitho is juxtaposed, and with whom he must deal at critical moments. In the course of rising in rank Bolitho collects another devoted acolyte, a midshipman, and begins to build a reputation in the fleet for dash and success through unorthodox, bloody, and killing conflicts.
The narrative structure is somewhat loose and episodic. The cover art is exciting and "ripped from the very pages" of this novel, but there are absolutely no other visual aids like maps, sail plans, or ship diagrams. Kent focuses on exciting action rather than technical details, and from the point of view of the seamen and under officers in these early novels. So far Bolitho has been blessed with mostly competent and empathetic superiors rather than hacks or unprofessional political appointees, and visibly grows in the abilty to command.

If you have read C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower series, Bolitho will come as a disappointment. Alexander Kent (real name: Douglas Reeman) is not a bad writer, but his characters simply do not have the same vividness or depth as Forester's. More to the point, Bolitho seems to be a watered-down version (no pun intended) of his predecessor. Like Hornblower, Bolitho suffers from fear of heights. But where Hornblower constantly experienced extreme self-doubt, Bolitho asks himself endless, fruitless questions. And where Hornblower was clever, daring, and downright heroic, Bolitho is dazed and confused, spaced-out and generally lackluster. I ended up feeling more respect for Bolitho's sidekick, Stockdale, (who, frankly, was a more interesting character), than I did for Bolitho.

This is not to say that the series is awful. The Bolitho books are engaging, they just compare poorly with other nautical fiction. It is especially unfortunate that Kent chose the American Revolution as a setting for this particular novel. (I found myself consistently rooting for the "enemy.") The Napoleonic Wars are, by and large, more interesting fodder for nautical fiction, more so than the paltry naval battles fought against the American "rebels." The same holds true for the earlier Bolitho books which pit him against smugglers. Contraband simply does not capture the imagination as much as a struggle for world supremacy.

If you haven't read anything by Forester or O'Brian, by all means try a few Bolithos. If you have, and are looking for more historical fiction of that caliber, try the Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell. The series takes place on land, not at sea, but is equally as authentic as Forester's series. Moreover, Cornwell is a marvelous writer.

Richard Bolitho is assigned in this story as fourth lieutenant on the 80 gun two-decker third rate ship-of-the-line, Trojan. The year is 1777 and they are anchored off Staten Island as part if the inshore squadron under Admiral Coutt. Trojan's captain is the remote Captain Pears, and the first lieutenant a man named Cairns. In our modern navy, Cairns would be called the Executive Officer--next under the captain in the chain-of-command.

There is much action for Trojan, both as convoy escort, and in attacking a fort in North Carolina and again in the Carribean. Bolitho is of course heavily involved, in shore parties, as well as sea battles, and eventually gets temporary command of a prize and undergoes a sea battle in his own command.

This is a great series, and Kent (a pseudonym) displays more than a speaking acquaintance with the royal navy, its customs and conditions, in the late 18th century (not the 19th, as the Library Journal says in their review).

This is the third in the Richard Bolitho series, preceded by Midshipman Bolitho, and Stand into Danger. I am currently reading the fourth book in the series, Sloop of War. It is a thoroughly entertaining series, especially (but not exclusively) for aficianados of sea stories, and particularly historical square-riggers.

I recommend that the reader begin with the first book of the series, Midshipman Bolitho, and read them in order as they portray the protagonist, Richard Bolitho, through his career in sequential order. Each story does stand alone, however.

It is interesting to see the American Revolution through the eyes of an officer in the Royal Navy.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre, USN (Ret)

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

Kent's writing here (and in v.1&2) isn't geared for the ultra-knowledgeable Jack Tar, but for those whose feet are at least damp from the sea spray. No foot notes, but not much exotic vocabulary, either.
The writing style and non-stop adventure seem better suited for an action movie or adolescent reading. Now, that said, it would make a great action movie, and I would encourage younger kids to read it.
If you're shoaled on O'Brian's highly technical writing, give this a try. Chock full of adventure, a young boy is growing up in the Royal Navy. There are the continuing steotypes he uses to learn from (the overly-harsh lieutenant, the distant captain, etc.)
Bonus for us Yanks, this volume is set in America during the Revolution.
A good read: quick, easy. Read it to your kids, just to get them loving the sea early.

For those who enjoy naval fiction and expect something of quality (an O'Brian or Forester, perhaps) these books will prove to be disappointing. They are not bad, just not very well written; perhaps more suitable for teenage than adult readers. In addition to an abundance of clichés, Kent/Reeman employs bizarre similes which `slap' the reader out of the narrative, straight back to the printed page. In addition, the novels tend to be predictable and over sentimental. They are not bad but they are not that good, either.

Just what I wanted

Love Alexander Kent. Re-reading series, still very enjoyable

Magnificent!

I can't believe it took me all these years to discover Alexander Kent's British Naval series of novels.
I have been an aficionado of Captain Horatio Hornblower stories for ages.
Now, I find that I am an aficionado of Captain Richard Bolitho stories.